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Imaging for the new era..

Like it or not, we all knew this day was coming; after Samsung got rid of expandable storage and a removable battery in the Galaxy S6, it seemed almost certain those same sacrifices would extend to the Galaxy Note line. Some hoped the company would find a way to keep the features intact for its hardcore users, but new photos published by Droid Life should put any lingering speculation to rest; they’re both history in the upcoming Galaxy Note 5.

The pics reveal a larger-sized version of the glass-and-metal design that earned the S6 such rave reviews, and Samsung has maintained a slot for the Note’s signature S Pen stylus at the bottom right of its aluminum frame. The phone’s backside appears to be a bit more curved than the Galaxy S6, but otherwise we’re looking at a phablet version of that device.

Droid Life’s source says the Note 5 includes a 3,000mAh battery, which is likely to only fuel longevity concerns among users accustomed to swapping out the battery at their convenience. That’s especially true since battery life is one of the few legitimate complaints that can be lodged against the S6; hopefully Samsung will surprise us next week in New York City and somehow assuage those fears. Droid Life also vouches for specs we’ve seen previously; the Note 5 will carry 4GB of RAM and come in 32, 64, and 128GB configurations.

If you’re desperate for what’s been cut from the Note 5, LG still includes a removable battery in the G4, and Motorola’s new Moto X will offer microSD support. But Samsung has officially walked away from both.